Wire-gate fastener.



W. T. BIRD.

WIRE GATE FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1911.

1,042,757. Patented 0@1;.29, 1912.

CJI

UNTTED STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

WILLIAM T. BIRD, OF SHEFFIELD, IOWA, ASSIGNOR. OF ONE-HALF TO J. S. WAR-TNABY, OF SHEFFIELD, IOWA.

WIRE-GATE FASTENER.

'io (ZZZ 20. mm- [i may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM T. BIRD, citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Sheiiield, Franklin county, Iowa, have invented a new and useful ire-Gate Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for fastening and stretching means for wire gates.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated. by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation showing the gate fastening in open or inoperative position. Fig. 2 is an elevation like unto Fig. 1 showing the gate fastener in operative or closed position. Fig. 3 is avertical section on the indicated line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the construction of the device as shown the numeral 10 designates a stretcher or evener bar adapted to be secured to end portions of gate wires such as 11. The gate wires 11 may be independent sections secured at their opposite ends to a post (not shown) or they may form continuations of the strand wires of a fence in a common and well known manner and they may be of any desired number. The gate wires 11 preferably extend through horizontal holes in the stretcher or evener bar 10 and are secured rigidly yet removably thereto. The evener bar 10 also is formed with a plurality of slots 12, in this instance two in number, and hooks 13, 14, preferably made of metal, are mounted with their stems extending through said slots and slidingly engaging therein. Movement ofithe stems of the hooks 13, 14 through the slots 12 is limited in one direction by pins 15 mounted in the extremities of said stems. The hooks 13, 141- are adapted to engage at times with a post 16 and to that end are of such size and shape and can be bent and adjusted to fit such post in embracing relations. A stay bar 1'7 is mounted on and connects the hooks 13, 14. parallel with and in front of the stretcher or evener bar 10. A curved lever 18 is fulcrumed intermediate of its ends on the central portion of the stay bar 17. One end portion of the lever 18 is forked and carries a bolt 19 extending across its fork.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 7, 1911.

Patented Oct. 29,1912.

Serial No. 664,482.

A. draw rod 20, curved at its forward end, is pivoted at its extremity to the bolt 19 and is pivotally connected at its rear end to an eye-bolt 21, which eye-bolt extends horizontally through the central portion of the stretcher or evener bar 10 approximately midway between the hooks 13, 14. The lever 18 may be provided if desired with a handle 22 on the extremity of its long arm. The curvature of one end portion of the draw. rod 20 corresponds to the curvature of the short arm of the lever 18 and said curved portion of the rod is adapted to lie at times in contact with the convex face of said short arm.

In practical use the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 1, the hooks 13, let being detached from the post 16. In such position and condition of parts the gate and fastening device may be moved through an arc in either direction to open a driveway or passageway. To close the gate the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1 are moved horizontally until the hooks 13, 14 engage the post 16 and then the lever is turned on its fulcrum, the handle 22 being moved manually downwardly through an arc until the parts are brought into the positions shown in Fig. 2. Movement of the lever 18 as described applies draft through the rod 20 upon the stretcher or evener bar 10 to the end of moving said stretcher or evener bar toward the post 16 and applying desired strain and tightening effect to the wires 11. The movement of the lever 18 is continued until the bolt 19 is moved across a line intersecting the center of the fulcrum and the axis of articulation of the rod 20 on the eyebolt 21, at which time the lever is retained in position by strain on said rod. A reverse movement of the lever will slacken the parts to such extent that the hooks 13, 14: may be removed from the post 16 manually to open the gate.

I claim as my invention- 1. A wire-gate fastener, comprising hooks, a stay bar connecting said hooks, a stretcher slidingly mounted on said hooks, a lever fulcrumed on said stay bar, a rod connecting said lever and stretcher, and means for securing gate elements to said stretcher.

2. A wire-gate fastener, comprising a stretcher formed with slots, means for securing gate elements to said stretcher, hooks slidingly mounted in said slots, a stay bar on said hooks, a lever fulcrumed on said stay bar, and a draw rod pivotally connecting one end of said lever to said stretcher.

3. A wire-gate fastener, comprising a stretcher formed with slots, means for securing gate elements to said stretcher, hooks slidingly mounted in said slots, a stay bar on said hooks, a lever fulcrumed on said stay bar, and a draw rod pivotally connecting one end of said lever to said stretcher, adjacent end portions of said lever and draw rod being curved concentrically.

at. A wire-gate fastener, comprising a stretcher formed with slots, means for securing gate elements to said stretcher, hooks slidingly mounted in said slots, pins mounted in extremities of said hooks, a stay bar on said hooks, a lever fulcrumed on said stay bar, and a draw rod pivotally connecting one end of said lever to said stretcher.

5. A wire-gate fastener, comprising a stretcher formed with slots, means for securing gate elements to said stretcher, hooks slidingly mounted in said slots, pins mounted in extremities of said hooks, a stay bar on said hooks, a lever fulcrumed on said stay bar, and a draw rod pivotally connecting one end of said lever to said stretcher, adj acent end portions of said lever and draw rod being curved concentrically.

Signed by me at Sheffield, Iowa, this 24th day of August, 1911.

WILLIAM T. BIRD.

Witnesses H. L. CARHART, C. C. OARHART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

